Exige 240s / Cayman R
Discussion
Hi guys,
Currently owning a 996.1GT3 and recently having just sold a Caterham SLR I'm in the market for a new toy mate. I have always kind of hankered for a Cayman R, have previously owned a 993 8yrs and a 2.5 boxster in the very early days which I always liked and seemed to handle well!!!! Well i was 24 then !
. Have never driven a Cayman though.
With the Cayman I like the partial rarity but after having owned a bat mad Caterham I was wandering if it be bit big and lardy. Planned use would be fast road weekend use and occasional track day, so would be wanting carbon buckets, PSE, manual, anything extra a bonus. Guess air con would be nice!!
However at the same time I've seen a lovely lotus exige 240, having recently driven one it was quite an incredible car and nimble and a fair bit cheaper than I would get a Cayman R for and probably a lot cheaper to run..
Just wandered what people's thoughts are...Or if anyone's swooped out of a Cayman R and for what reasons as such / does anyone know of a good private car coming up for sale soon..Unfortunately I missed a good deal in Scotland which I'm kicking meself for but this exige I seen looks nice & tempted......Just after people's thoughts / opinions...cheers
Currently owning a 996.1GT3 and recently having just sold a Caterham SLR I'm in the market for a new toy mate. I have always kind of hankered for a Cayman R, have previously owned a 993 8yrs and a 2.5 boxster in the very early days which I always liked and seemed to handle well!!!! Well i was 24 then !
. Have never driven a Cayman though.With the Cayman I like the partial rarity but after having owned a bat mad Caterham I was wandering if it be bit big and lardy. Planned use would be fast road weekend use and occasional track day, so would be wanting carbon buckets, PSE, manual, anything extra a bonus. Guess air con would be nice!!
However at the same time I've seen a lovely lotus exige 240, having recently driven one it was quite an incredible car and nimble and a fair bit cheaper than I would get a Cayman R for and probably a lot cheaper to run..
Just wandered what people's thoughts are...Or if anyone's swooped out of a Cayman R and for what reasons as such / does anyone know of a good private car coming up for sale soon..Unfortunately I missed a good deal in Scotland which I'm kicking meself for but this exige I seen looks nice & tempted......Just after people's thoughts / opinions...cheers
Definitely go for the Lotus. I have a heavily modded Elise, Caterham and GT4 and IMO you will sorely miss the rawness and visceral nature of the Seven. Cayman R is a fine car but for a Sevener, it will feel like an Audi.
Even the Lotus may need some tweaking - but it is relatively cheap and parts are plentiful.
Even the Lotus may need some tweaking - but it is relatively cheap and parts are plentiful.
I think it depends on what type of track you are likely to visit, and of course how frequently.
IMO the Exige would be more suited to tighter, narrower tracks with lower average speeds. Whereas the Cayman R would lend itself more so to the GP/F1 spec circuits like, Spa, Silverstone perhaps Anglesey etc.
:Shameless plug time: I am considering selling my R - manual, Sports Chrono & Carbon Seats, 16000 miles. link if interested
IMO the Exige would be more suited to tighter, narrower tracks with lower average speeds. Whereas the Cayman R would lend itself more so to the GP/F1 spec circuits like, Spa, Silverstone perhaps Anglesey etc.
:Shameless plug time: I am considering selling my R - manual, Sports Chrono & Carbon Seats, 16000 miles. link if interested
Never driven an Exige but would like to. Especially on track. However the experiences of friends that have owned one after a Cayman or Boxster is that they are too raw for long distances. They were shattered by the time they got to their destination because of the excessive NVH. For me the Cayman R is a great compromise for touring and having fun on track (as are most Porsche sports cars).
I must have had a mind slip and forgot about the Spyder.
"get the 987.2 Spyder", I call it my big Exige and is what you are after imo.
After owning 2 Lotus and 2 Cayman R's the GT3 and the GT4 !! the SPyder is that weekend car which is far far better built than a Lotus but gives you a bit of that Lotus feel.
great Spa event with Lotus on track
I ran this garage for a bit but the best car stayed ;-)
"get the 987.2 Spyder", I call it my big Exige and is what you are after imo.
After owning 2 Lotus and 2 Cayman R's the GT3 and the GT4 !! the SPyder is that weekend car which is far far better built than a Lotus but gives you a bit of that Lotus feel.
great Spa event with Lotus on track
I ran this garage for a bit but the best car stayed ;-)
I shall probably get some very negative responses to this, but imo the Exige is a great car on track so long as you don't want to drive it at ten tenths. If you do you will find that it will push on, and any attempt to eliminate this from the driving seat will result in rapid and nigh-on uncatchable oversteer.
not quite true, again out the box the geo is dire, but mine was set up , as you would expect ;-)
me in mine :-) following a Cayman As it happens who out braked himself at the end :-), note the over steer at 2.31
yes it happens fast as **** but you can rescue it as long as you drive a lot and you do it with out having to think.
only the 190BHp one as well ;-) great track cars and teach you how to drive for sure.
https://youtu.be/IH5OacjJT50
me in mine :-) following a Cayman As it happens who out braked himself at the end :-), note the over steer at 2.31
yes it happens fast as **** but you can rescue it as long as you drive a lot and you do it with out having to think.
only the 190BHp one as well ;-) great track cars and teach you how to drive for sure.
https://youtu.be/IH5OacjJT50
Edited by Porsche911R on Thursday 25th August 10:38
Trev450 said:
I shall probably get some very negative responses to this, but imo the Exige is a great car on track so long as you don't want to drive it at ten tenths. If you do you will find that it will push on, and any attempt to eliminate this from the driving seat will result in rapid and nigh-on uncatchable oversteer.
I think there is some truth in that.I've owned both (at the same time) and would say they are very different cars. My Exige ended up track prep'd with a 300bhp chargecooeled motor, rose joints, LSD, nitron, aero etc etc. It still didn't get away that the chassis is showing its age with the amount of flex, the imbalance of the handling/weight distribution and the lack of reliability on track. Driven quickly its quite rewarding, driven hard and all the flaws start to show up very quickly. The Cayman R on the other hand is very well balanced, almost sanitised in comparison (is that such a bad thing), engine and gearbox are a delight and out the box and is a great all round package than can be used to tour in. Downside is it doesn't offer the steering feedback or the rawness of the Exige, but then it does have a decent AC and a level of build quality/comfort that the lotus can only dream of.
If you looking for a weekend/daily that you can take on track, go Cayman R. If you are looking for a track car that you can occasionally use at the weekend/daily, go Exige (just be aware you'll probably spend ££££ upgrading bits for track). If its a pure track car, then probably should have stuck with a caterham.
remember the R has quite poor brakes on track (unless you have PCCB) and NO adjustment on any suspension arms.
hence while it's the best road car I have add, like the Exige on track one might fine it frustrating stock , I spent £8k on the Spyder to sort oem downfall and non adjustment.
hence while it's the best road car I have add, like the Exige on track one might fine it frustrating stock , I spent £8k on the Spyder to sort oem downfall and non adjustment.
My daily driver is just a VW Caddy works van (BG heating engineer!)
I sold my Caterhan as found it just generally too much work too drive far then track it and drive it home. So only done coombe, Silverstone morning & goodwood with it. It was a fantastic car but probobly just a little bit too hard core if wanted to take it to Europe / drive it far etc and my mrs hated it little tillets didn't suit her.
Cayman / Exige was going to be another weekend play thing and hopefully be bit more useable, guess writing this little worried Exige may fall into same trap as caterham but perhaps be bit more exciting than R. R is a lot more money too add but have always wanted one.
The GT3 is very hard core with cage/buckets etc and I love it so that not going anywhere. Perhaps I'm just a spoilt git. Guess Exige also be a lot cheaper to run too. Afraid if don't get a Cayman R now though and try I may miss the boat like I did with a 45k 993 turbo I tried a few years ago (dream 911)
Uses would be prob do 3 track days a year and would perhaps like to take into Europe for small touring holiday and always fancied trying a day at Spa (like everyone!) and anglesea / just as looks picturesque !
I sold my Caterhan as found it just generally too much work too drive far then track it and drive it home. So only done coombe, Silverstone morning & goodwood with it. It was a fantastic car but probobly just a little bit too hard core if wanted to take it to Europe / drive it far etc and my mrs hated it
little tillets didn't suit her.Cayman / Exige was going to be another weekend play thing and hopefully be bit more useable, guess writing this little worried Exige may fall into same trap as caterham but perhaps be bit more exciting than R. R is a lot more money too add but have always wanted one.
The GT3 is very hard core with cage/buckets etc and I love it so that not going anywhere. Perhaps I'm just a spoilt git
. Guess Exige also be a lot cheaper to run too. Afraid if don't get a Cayman R now though and try I may miss the boat like I did with a 45k 993 turbo I tried a few years ago (dream 911)Uses would be prob do 3 track days a year and would perhaps like to take into Europe for small touring holiday and always fancied trying a day at Spa (like everyone!) and anglesea / just as looks picturesque !
In the 2 years I have owned my R I've taken it to Europe annually on a summer road trip. It's comfortable enough that on the most recent trip I drove it in one day from my base in South Wales to the hotel for the evening in Luxembourg, without feeling much fatigue at all when arriving.
I did a few parade laps of Spa whilst there at the classic. I was very impressed with it & would love to use it on circuits, but given my own circumstances and the investment in the car I couldnt afford to take the risk and use it that way. I wouldnt criticise the steering at all - to me it feels very direct, the brakes are probably an area I would look to address from oem spec for trackdays - even if just as simple as experimenting with alternative compounds or looking to gt3 components as its noted other owners have done to improve it.
If I sell mine, I openly acknowledge that I will not own a better car again & If I regret it enough to make me want to get back into one, I wont likely find one.
I did a few parade laps of Spa whilst there at the classic. I was very impressed with it & would love to use it on circuits, but given my own circumstances and the investment in the car I couldnt afford to take the risk and use it that way. I wouldnt criticise the steering at all - to me it feels very direct, the brakes are probably an area I would look to address from oem spec for trackdays - even if just as simple as experimenting with alternative compounds or looking to gt3 components as its noted other owners have done to improve it.
If I sell mine, I openly acknowledge that I will not own a better car again & If I regret it enough to make me want to get back into one, I wont likely find one.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yes I do agree bit of an open question, guess I'm just trying to convince myself if the Cayman is worth 15k more than a fancy exige I like I guess!! As you say and I'm aware they are 2 different cars completely. In fairness to an exige S240 I tried the engine was incredible with the super charger giving it the beans, like a mini super car go kart. Although I'm sure the Cayman will probobly sound nicer with the engine note! Time will tell...Cheers for everyone's comments..
Ultimately it all depends on what its main use will be
"I'd use would be fast road weekend use and occasional track day" sounds like you should just use the 996 GT3.
After the Caterham a Cayman R is going to feel bloated and blunt. It also seems quite close in purpose to a 996 GT3.
Have you thought about swapping the 996 GT3 for a 997.1 GT3?
Or perhaps trying the new Caterham 310R?
Otherwise I'd suggest a 987.2 Spyder would be a better alternative as it would give you more comfort than a 7, but still give you an open top which the 996 GT3 or Cayman R wouldn't offer.
After the Caterham a Cayman R is going to feel bloated and blunt. It also seems quite close in purpose to a 996 GT3.
Have you thought about swapping the 996 GT3 for a 997.1 GT3?
Or perhaps trying the new Caterham 310R?
Otherwise I'd suggest a 987.2 Spyder would be a better alternative as it would give you more comfort than a 7, but still give you an open top which the 996 GT3 or Cayman R wouldn't offer.
As Cmoose hs intimated, you are your own guy, it's only a call you can make. I know someone who has used a VX220 for almost 8 years as a daily driver (in a suit!) and is happy. Others wouldn't last a weekend in an Elise derivative, especially given how incredible modern cars are as daily propositions.
Had my S1 for almost 10 years and now adore it. Taken it well past a road car for some time, but the beauty of them is you can turn them into whatever you want them to. For me, you lose a bit of specialness with the S2.
Had my S1 for almost 10 years and now adore it. Taken it well past a road car for some time, but the beauty of them is you can turn them into whatever you want them to. For me, you lose a bit of specialness with the S2.
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